"... And Houses for All"

Currently Retired Shipping Containers are available resource going pretty much to waste. They should be re-purposed into secure Homes. 

1. The Problem

Even the anointed King Canute couldn't turn back the sea, and in the Old Testament Moses needed help from his special friend to keep the sea at bay.

So when the seas come in, be it from Climate Change or Tsunami or Increased Storm Activity, it may impel the village dwellers to up and move their village to higher ground and on more than on one occasion.

2. Proposed Solution

Though it may seem trite to suggest it but I'm to go for the remanufacture of retired 20' and 40' Shipping Containers. They are somewhat ubiquitous in that they are spread all over the World. Making them a fairly well available resource.

Most in Australia that are repurposed, tend to be for Site Offices and other Site Facilities on Building Sites. These tend to be low standard rough and ready modifications, however with a bit of design flair and economical construction and fit out the Housing units are quite liveable.

Upmarket Architectural work can turn them into fairly rarified and expensive housing.

  3. World Changing?

The "field-built"Social Housing that we intend to replace with these structures cost Government approximately A$150,000 in a suburban environment and upwards of A$450,000 in remote/indigenous lands. I would like to think that an Order of Magnitude in costs would lead to some form of disruption to the current market for these products. 

It is our intention to design and have Factory Reconstructed Social Housing units fit for purpose across the Pacific and on the Pacific Rim at greatly reduced cost and increased functionality.

Our solution is to use existing retired Shipping Containers in Australia to repurpose into Social Housing for such people as Homeless, sufferers of Domestic Violence, Homelessness and Indigenous Australians in outback areas subject to Monsoonal/Storm activity.

By using my skills in Construction Project Management/Cost Control Engineering and my Associates keen Architectural Abilities I believe that we can convert the utilitarian Shipping Containers into Acceptable Housing in at-risk Coastal Regimes, primarily in the Pacific Basin and also the Indian Oceanthe  World.

The main Technology of our Shipping Container Housing is that it provides a Robust, Portable, Factory ready Housing for the efficient rebuild off-site and ease of on-site Installation.

In our consideration of the suburban Domestic Violence units was the concept of using IoT type sensors to warn or lock up the house on the approach of a "GPS" Tagged Offender/Partner. 

Similarly, in a Storm Surge/Tsunami situation the Home Owner could be "warned" of an existing Storms approach and the Home could be put into a Lock Down/Water-tight Mode.

Over the next 12 months the plan is to complete construction ofPrototype  Domestic Violence Social Housing unit.

This Prototype unit is to be paid for by me.

Construction will involve partnering with other such as:-

Ferencz Baranyay Architects

IKEA - stylish but affordable furnishings

Bunnings - Bldg Construction Materials 

Tesla - Powerwall and PV off-grid stye 

A major Charity in the Domestic Violence will be will be receiving the Prototype/Pilot unit at no-cost, but used as a marketing strategy to gain greater publicity of our capabilities.     

Once methods of efficiently re-engineering the units have been arrived at we can employ the same methodologies in areas closer to the Climate Change event, such that we can provide on-site work  to locals in fitting out the Housing Units. Going by current Climate Change sea level fluctuations their use might well come from existing Storm Surge and Hurricane/Typhoon sea rise effects. 

When correctly sited they can survive a higher level of abuse than that of a "field built" house and can easily be secured against pilfering from deserted properties and are easily re-locatable.     

Government Aid Programs and possibly by Charities and NGO's following Environmental Disasters. 

Mainly in the Pacific and Pacific Rim communities.

Currently designing multiple types of Housing Unit - Domestic Violence unit, Off-Grid (self powered) Unit for remote locations and Suburban models and still working on design of Prototype DV unit. 

It depends on how bad the Climate and Environmental affects are across the Pacific Ocean - it is the biggest Ocean in the World, but fairly sparsely populated over vast distances.

Storms and weather events appear to be increasing in severity which may impact greatly on the take-up of our Solution.

In a benign Weather Environment our Units may only be in the 10's to 100's of units over the next 12 months. Whereas under a more severe Weather Environment the Numbers may been the 100's to 1,000's of Units.

"FallSaver Pacific/ ... And Justice for All" - Director (AT) has 10 yrs Experience as a Civil Engineer in Local Govt & Consulting; 15 years as Cost Engineer/Project Controls Engineer with US based  Bechtel, Fluor, Mission Energy; 10 yrs full time carer for mother+father 24/7/365 due to failing health; Considerable effort through FallSaver Pacific/SME involved in Falls Problems in the Aged and expertise in Internet of Things (MIT 2014) and Radical Innovation (MIT 2016);

John Burke - Procurement and Contract Specialist

Ferencz Baranyay - Architectural Principal

Kevin Lui - Computer and Aps Programming Specialist

Bernie Cooper - International Business Consultant/Mentor

Trying to exist as a For-Profit SME once one passes 65 yrs of age is even more difficult that it was prior to turning 65. Bearing this in mind, and considering my personal situation and philosophies, following the demise of both my parents I have resolved to undertake future work on a Not-for-Profit basis, somewhat due to an epiphany - that is better to be charitable than to grow into a wealthy hypocrite like the Bezos types - the wealthiest man in the world with the most down trodden and unappreciated staff.

In these days of company destructive/creation, what counts as long term? Does 3 yrs count as long term now, or are we still going for 100 years like the tobacco industry?

I believe that by applying solid Engineering principles like KISS - "Keep it Simple, Stupid" and always endeavouring to provide the most cost efficient design and construction methods it will be possible to Disrupt the current Social Justice style Housing markets in Australia, if not on a Worldwide basis.

At this time in Victoria the State Government is providing Social Housing costing $150,000 each and remote Indigenous Housing for $450,000

I see this as a massive waste of both money and resources, that can be overcome by the application of our Solution, as outlined here, to the Coastal Challenge.

Publicity is the main thing that is needed to get Government, NGOs and Other Charitable Institutions involved. Like everything in business and life nowadays  "its not what you know, but who you know"!

Business Associates, Partners or Promoters would be needed to help give our Solution a push along. Over the years many good Systems have failed to succeed due to them getting little or no publicity and ending up being "stuck in the mud" of creation without being able to advance.